Deborah Martin
Aug 26, 2021
Slab Cinema is moving indoors.
Rick and Angela Martinez’s roving film series, which has presented outdoor screenings of all sorts of movies for 17 years, is opening Slab Cinema Arthouse this weekend. The new venue in the Blue Star Arts Complex will show movies, host art exhibitions and operate as an event space.
“The space is very dynamic and able to do a lot of different things,” Angela Martinez said. “On First Friday, we weren’t open yet, but after we got our (certificate of occupancy), we had four bands and all kinds of films rolling. So the way we have the space set up, it’s not like a dedicated theater — it’s whatever it needs to be at the time.”
Fans of watching movies in the great outdoors needn’t fret: Slab Cinema will continue its outdoor screenings, too. Upcoming films include “The Little Mermaid” on Sept. 4 and a 50th anniversary presentation of “West Side Story” on Sept. 18. Both are part of an ongoing series at Mission Marquee Plaza.
The new venture, dubbed Slab Cinema Arthouse, is located at 134 Blue Star. It officially opens this weekend with showings of “Sunset Boulevard” at 8 p.m. Friday and “Mulholland Drive” at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $10 at slabcinemaarthouse.com.
Film fans who want to check it out should take note that Slab Cinema Arthouse is a small space, and occupancy is going to be limited to one-third, which is fewer than 20 people, for the time being because of the pandemic. So advance purchases are a good idea. Masks are strongly recommended, too.
The plan is to screen a range of films, including older movies, indies and works made by San Antonio filmmakers.
(Photo caption Angela Martinez found the perfect home for the new Slab Cinema Arthouse in the former Fl!ght Gallery space at the Blue Star Arts Complex. The space, which will show films and exhibit artworks, opens this weekend. Jerry Lara / Staff photographer)
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